Cigar Aficionado

Cigar Aficionado is a magazine for the man who enjoys life’s great pleasures: fine dining and entertaining, the finest wines and spirits, world travel and the arts. At the heart of every issue is the cigar: what to smoke, where to smoke, and how to enjoy a great smoke.

highlights • There are plenty of gems in this issue but three in particular stand out. The Montecristo Doble Diamante gets our attention for the high score of 95 points and high price of $150. The Brick House Churchill is noteworthy for its value: a 93-point cigar for less than $10. But the Cuban Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill takes the spotlight at 96 points.

An Issue You Won’t Forget

out of the humidor

Cigar Aficionado • VOL. 33 NO. 1

Fluo Collection From S.T. Dupont

The Maybourne Beverly Hills

The French 75

Vivacious Venison

Learn To Snowmobile

An Interview With Bret Baier • Marvin R. Shanken sits down with the Fox News anchor for a frank discussion about the upcoming U.S. election

THE CIGAR AFICIONADO READER POLL

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS • Playing the courses where golf’s top tournaments are contested isn’t impossible

The Amateurs vs. The Assassins • The World Series of Poker draws the game’s biggest names with its huge stakes and the chance to fleece recreational players. But are the pigeons such easy marks?

COLLECTING IN REAL TIME • After the hyperspeculation of the pandemic, watch collecting comes down to earth with a return to core values and a passion for horology

Auction Blocks

LET THERE BE BLOODY MARY • The drink with the gory name is a festive, daybreak crowd-pleaser that can be vodka’s best friend. But why did its sunrise take so long?

Smoke, Sweat and A Secret Door • Jason Naftzinger completed his cigar haven with determination and a little bit of fun, including installing a hidden entryway that only he and his wife can access

My Favorite Cigar • Cigar aficionados describe their smoke of choice

churchills • There’s something about the Brick House Churchill that consistently captivates us. It scored 93 points—the highest of the category—and continues its track record of excellence and value, as it has appeared on Cigar afiCionado’s Top 25 list and retails for less than $10. Four cigars scored 91 points, all showcasing different styles. The Camacho Ecuador from Honduras is named for its Ecuadoran wrapper, while the H. Upmann 180th Anniversary was made by A.J. Fernandez for Altadis U.S.A. to celebrate the brand’s long history. It’s more expensive than typical H. Upmanns from Nicaragua, but not nearly as pricey as the Cohiba Esplendido, a Cuban cigar with a dedicated fan base. Liga Privada, made by Drew Estate, also has considerable consumer appeal, albeit at a much lower price point.

figurados • Defined by its tapered 109-style head (also called a drop head), the Por Larrañaga Fénix was made exclusively for Phoenicia Trading A.A., one of the largest distributors of Cuban cigars in the world. The striking Fénix scored 94 points and is part of Cuba’s Regional Edition series, available only in markets that Phoenicia serves, such as Lebanon, Cyprus and the Middle East. Collectors are especially drawn to this particular size, as it is not found in the Habanos regular-production portfolio. At 93 points, the Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Belicoso is a compact smoke of power and complexity, made in the Dominican Republic by Arturo Fuente Cigar Co. The more subtle Illusione Epernay L’Alpiniste favors finesse over strength, and scored 92 points for its elegant profile.

grandes • Traditionalists will always scoff at the oversized ring gauges of grandes, yet manufacturers claim this hefty format is a best seller. The sheer girth signals value to many consumers and the industry has been more than willing...